Members rockitsauce Posted December 18, 2008 Members Posted December 18, 2008 After recently learning some modes that I hadnt been messing with before, I tried to do some improv over a jam track and it felt like I was just running through the scales. Maybe I was practicing the patterns too much in that format and got stuck, I dunno. What can I do to break out of the box on this? Or maybe I am just tired I am not sure Edit: probably also trying to work on too fast of a pace backing track, should slow down.
Members Stackabones Posted December 18, 2008 Members Posted December 18, 2008 Practice scales and you'll be good at practicing scales. Play songs and you'll be good at playing songs. Avoid running scales -- play melodies. Read them off sheet music, figure them out by ear, memorize them.
Members mosiddiqi Posted December 18, 2008 Members Posted December 18, 2008 to add to the above advice, sing some melodies, then play them.
Members jeremy_green Posted December 18, 2008 Members Posted December 18, 2008 what I like to do is look at each mode and identify the chord shapes held within for each note of the scale. Once you can see the chords you now have the chord tones to roll off of. This makes the noodling far more musical as you seek to wrap up each phrase ending on a chord tone. Try it create little melodies playing off each chord of the backing track. Melody is king.
Members gennation Posted December 18, 2008 Members Posted December 18, 2008 Come on over to the On Topic section of my lesson site: http://lessons.mikedodge.com It's there for players who are stuck in a rut, need to break out of "pattern", and need to see the fretboard in a need way, musically. Go there and scroll down to the On Topic section. To help take you beyond where you're at now, check out the Advanced Pentatonic Tutorial. READ the Introduction to see how I came up with this and all the places/players I realized were using it. It'll show you things about those little scales you may never find on your own. And, it'll be taking what you already know and help you turn it into a vehicle instead of a pattern. I use the word "Advanced" because it's NOT your basic Pentatonic stuff. Of course try the other lessons there too but I think that Adv Pent Tute will be a real eye opener for you, especially before getting into all the "Modal" stuff (which you will find there too). That whole section is about getting out ruts, learning new things, and above all...application.
Members Jasco Posted December 18, 2008 Members Posted December 18, 2008 Practice scales and you'll be good at practicing scales. Play songs and you'll be good at playing songs. Avoid running scales -- play melodies. Read them off sheet music, figure them out by ear, memorize them. +1
Members bbach Posted December 18, 2008 Members Posted December 18, 2008 After recently learning some modes that I hadnt been messing with before, I tried to do some improv over a jam track and it felt like I was just running through the scales. Maybe I was practicing the patterns too much in that format and got stuck, I dunno. What can I do to break out of the box on this? Or maybe I am just tired I am not sure Edit: probably also trying to work on too fast of a pace backing track, should slow down. I was running into the same thing. I started humming a tune that seemed to work over the jam track and then I try to play along with my humming. Most times it takes me a while to get the tune but it helped me get out of the pattern rut.
Members rockitsauce Posted December 18, 2008 Author Members Posted December 18, 2008 Thanks for the help fellas. I will do all of the above
Members Ang3lus Posted December 19, 2008 Members Posted December 19, 2008 try maximizing your note choices, be more aware of what notes you are playing for that SPECIFIC CHORD, you must be aware of what's going on in the background, once you assimilate that information, your ear will mostly go to the chord tones by itself.some tones to useGuide tones (3 and 7 degrees)Chord tones (1, 3, 5, 7)6 is awesome too but only for major chords once i realized that and was more aware, the scales were just helping me finding out the degrees in relation to the root note.
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